11 Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour That Don’t Require a Degree

If you want to increase your income but don’t have a college degree, you might feel like minimum-wage jobs are your only option.

Fortunately, it’s easy to find high-paying jobs with no experience. Thanks to technology and the gig economy, you can find jobs that pay $20 an hour and don’t require a degree.

If you want a higher-paying job, our list of opportunities is the perfect place to begin your search.

Top Jobs That Pay $20 an Hour with No Degree Requirements

Jobs that pay $20 or more an hour with little to no experience can be in-person gigs or work-from-home opportunities. You can also find part-time jobs or full-time employment based on your availability.

Whatever the case, it’s possible to earn a decent income with various employment opportunities. Here are the top jobs that pay $20 an hour with minimal requirements. 

1. Freelance Writing

Freelance writers create content for online businesses and blogs. Oftentimes, they specialize in a niche, like finance or health.

Typically, freelance writers charge clients per article or word and work as independent contractors.

Thanks to the flexibility, writing is one of the most popular jobs for earning an income on the side.

Education Requirements: Freelance writers don’t need a college degree or formal education. However, it’s helpful to have experience in your writing niche.

Median Salary: According to Indeed, freelance writers earn $21.14 per hour on average. It’s possible to increase your earnings with experience.

Tools Required: Freelance writing has few barriers to entry. You just need a computer and a reliable internet connection.

Creating an online portfolio of your writing samples is also useful for pitching clients, so consider starting a blog to showcase your talent.

Where to Start: Learn how to create a six-figure writing business with the Earn More Writing course.

2. Deliver Meals

Working a delivery app gig involves picking up food or grocery orders and delivering them to customers’ doorsteps.

Leading food delivery companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats let you deliver via bike, scooter, or car.

You can also try working for companies like Instacart and Shipt to deliver groceries to people in your city.

Education Requirements: Food delivery jobs don’t require any education.

Median Salary: DoorDash driver pay varies depending on numerous factors. Glassdoor states that Instacart shoppers earn $11 to $25 per hour.

If you earn good tips, it’s relatively simple to make at least $20 an hour.

Tools Required: You need a vehicle for most food delivery jobs. Additionally, a valid driver’s license and car insurance are required. 

However, if you don’t have a car, it’s still possible to earn cash in some locations. Read our guide on top ways to make money with your bike by making food deliveries.

Where to Start: DoorDash is an excellent choice if you want to deliver meals to people in your city.

If you prefer delivering groceries, Instacart is a reliable job that pays $20 an hour or more. Most delivery app companies allow you to work when you want, making them great for people looking to make their own schedules.

If you need a flexible schedule but don’t want to deliver food or groceries, there are other choices. Read our guide on the top weekend jobs to identify a suitable alternative.

*Related: If you’re looking for other delivery jobs, read our guide on jobs like Uber Eats to identify additional opportunities.

3. Proofreading

Proofreading is one of the top remote jobs if you like to pay close attention to detail and have excellent communication skills.

As a proofreader, you correct grammatical errors, formatting issues, and minor writing mistakes.

Education Requirements: Like freelance writing, proofreading is a high-paying job without a college degree requirement.

However, some types of proofreading, like legal or medical proofreading, may require previous industry experience or formal education.

Median Salary: Proofreaders earn $20.42 per hour on average, according to Indeed.

Tools Required: You need a computer and reliable internet to become a proofreader. Additionally, grammar-checking tools like Grammarly are useful.

You can also buy citation guides, like an APA or MLA guidebook, to reference while you proofread.

Where to Start: Learn how to make money from home or anywhere in the world as a proofreader with Proofread Anywhere.

4. Walk Dogs

If you love dogs, becoming a dog walker is another part-time job that pays well and doesn’t require experience. It’s also a terrific option if you’re trying to determine how to make extra money this summer in your free time.

Your responsibilities involve taking dogs for regular walks, but you can earn even more money by offering drop-in and dog boarding services. If you’re looking for under the table jobs, this is a fun gig to try.

Education Requirements: You don’t need a college degree to become a dog walker or sitter.

Median Salary: According to Indeed, dog walkers earn $17.61 per hour on average. You can make more money as a pet sitter if you walk several dogs at once, allowing you to serve multiple clients.

Tools Required: Dog walking supplies include leashes, waste bags, and treats.

If you offer kenneling services, you also need dog food, toys, and spaces for dogs to exercise and sleep. However, many pet owners may bring their dog’s food, bed, and toys for you to use.

Where to Start: Apps like Rover let you start your own dog walking or sitting business and find local opportunities. The app allows you to set your schedule and rates.

Read our Rover app review to learn more about this opportunity.

You can also consult our guide on other dog walking jobs to identify alternatives if that app doesn’t work for you.

5. Become a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants, or VAs, help clients with administrative work. This often involves tasks like scheduling appointments, booking travel arrangements, and handling invoices.

Virtual assistants may also help with social media management and sending emails to clients.

Education Requirements: Becoming a virtual assistant is one of the best online jobs that can pay $20 per hour or more, even if you don’t have a degree.

You need organization and communication skills, but formal education isn’t a requirement.

Median Salary: Virtual assistants earn $23.92 per hour on average, according to Indeed.

Tools Required: To be a virtual assistant, you’ll need a computer and a reliable internet connection. Additionally, many VAs use a headset and microphone for phone calls.

Where to Start: Discover how starting your own business as a VA can scale to $10,000 per month or more with $10K VA. In it, Kayla Sloan shares actionable tips you can take to earn more clients.

6. Graphic Design

Graphic designers help clients create visual content like website graphics, brochures, advertising material, and social media content.

You can also branch into video editing and website development as a graphic designer. If you’re creative, this is one of the best small business ideas to pursue.

Education Requirements: Graphic designers can take one or two-year diploma programs, but this isn’t necessarily a job requirement.

Having a portfolio of past projects is the most important resource for landing jobs.

Median Salary: Graphic designers make $19.78 an hour on average, according to Indeed.

Tools Required: To be a graphic designer, you’ll need editing software like Photoshop. Additionally, you need a powerful computer that can handle editing and rendering large files.

Where to Start: Freelance job sites like ZipRecruiter are an excellent way to find graphic design clients, provided you have a portfolio.

7. Bookkeeping

Bookkeepers are in charge of a company’s financial statements, invoicing, payroll, and general organization of everything a business earns and spends.

This is also an excellent side gig you can do from home since business owners often hire remote bookkeepers to help them organize their finances.

Education Requirements: Typically, bookkeeping requires a bachelor’s degree or college program in accounting or a similar financial field.

Fortunately, you can still find work as a freelance bookkeeper for smaller organizations if you don’t have a degree.

You can also complete online bookkeeper certification programs that take one year.

Median Salary: Work-from-home bookkeepers earn $20.86 per hour on average, according to Indeed.

Tools Required: Bookkeeping software like QuickBooks is essential for this line of work, as is having a computer and reliable internet.

Where to Start: Job boards like Indeed and ZipRecruiter regularly post bookkeeping positions.

8. Photographer

Photographers usually work at events like weddings, engagement shoots, and corporate events. They also work at entertainment venues.

As a photographer, it’s your job to capture memorable moments on camera, edit photos, and send them to your client.

Education Requirements: Photographers don’t need a degree.

Median Salary: Indeed states that freelance photographers earn $38.05 per hour on average.

Tools Required: You need a professional camera and photo editing software like Photoshop Lightroom for this line of work.

Where to Start: Take photos of your friends and city, then create an online portfolio to showcase your work to potential clients.

You can also find photography gig work on job boards like Indeed and promote your services via social media.

9. Handyman

If you know your way around a toolbox and are good at fixing things, becoming a handyman could be a good job for you.

Assembling furniture, installing televisions, basic plumbing work, and home repairs are examples of handyman jobs.

Education Requirements: Being a handyman doesn’t require a degree. However, if you’re doing electrical or plumbing work, previous work experience is recommended to do the job correctly and safely.

Median Salary: According to Indeed, handyman pay varies depending on the task. For example, carpentry work pays roughly $21 per hour, while plumbing jobs pay approximately $25 per hour.

Tools Required: A full tool kit is a must. Certain home repair tasks require additional supplies like paint, plaster, wood, and other materials.

Where to Start: The top alternatives to Taskrabbit let you offer handyman services to people in your city. Even though you set your hours and rates, most handyman gigs are good-paying jobs that pay well over $20 per hour.

10. Realtor

Realtors work with home buyers to help them find the right home for their needs and budget.

They also assist home sellers with staging a house for sale and setting a selling price depending on the current housing market.

Education Requirements: Every state is different, but you typically have to pass a real estate license examination to work as a realtor.

Median Salary: According to Indeed, realtors earn $40.09 per hour on average.

Tools Required: A professional website, business cards, and customer relation management (CRM) software are examples of common tools you need to manage customers and attract new leads.

Where to Start: Passing your real estate license examination and working with a local real estate firm is the fastest way to make money as a realtor.

11. Programming

Programming can involve website or mobile app development, creating new software, and even working in IT security.

Typically, programmers work as front-end developers who create client-facing interfaces from code or as back-end developers who build the groundwork that front-end developers use.

Education Requirements: Many programmers complete a university or college computer science degree.

However, self-taught programmers can find jobs if they have a comprehensive portfolio to show employers.

Median Salary: According to Indeed, programmers earn $32.01 per hour on average.

Tools Required: A computer and reliable internet are a must. You also need different software development tools depending on the programming language you’re using.

Where to Start: Freelance websites like Guru and Gun.io regularly post programming jobs.

Common Questions About $20 an Hour Jobs

Whether you’re wondering if it’s realistic to get jobs that pay $20 an hour with no experience or if the hourly pay is right for you, we’ve answered some common questions readers have when looking for better-paying work.

$20 an hour is how much each year?

If you work 40 hours per week, a $20 per hour job earns approximately $41,600 per year before taxes.

Is $20 an hour good pay?

Jobs that pay an hourly wage of $20 or more pay nearly three times the U.S. minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Some states have higher minimum wages, but no states have a $20 per hour minimum wage. In this sense, $20 an hour is good pay.

Do retail jobs pay $20 an hour?

Retail jobs don’t usually pay $20 an hour because they follow state minimum wage laws.

If you’re looking for entry-level jobs that pay $20 per hour or more, jobs like Amazon Flex or other gig economy jobs are a better choice.

Can you live off of $20 an hour?

Yes, it is possible to live well when you make $20 an hour, but each circumstance is different. Here are some factors that will impact your situation:

• Household size
• Number of dependents
• Annual cost of living

If you live in an affordable area, practice frugality, and have a smaller household, you can likely live off $20 an hour.

Bottom Line

Jobs that pay $20 or more an hour are more common these days because of at-home jobs and the gig economy.

You should play to your strengths when picking a job. For example, opportunities like freelance writing and proofreading make sense if you have excellent communication skills.

Similarly, if you value flexibility and want to get outside, meal delivery gigs like DoorDash and Instacart could be the perfect fit.

With a higher-paying job, you can make a positive impact on your finances. Hopefully, a job that pays $20 an hour can help you tackle your financial goals and begin saving more for the future.

What do you look for in a job or side hustle?

*Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from tips, peak pay, and other incentives.

*Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval

*Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply

*Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability

*Dash anytime: Subject to availability